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Shropshire Dragonfly Watch BlogKeeping an eye on the dragonflies flying in Shropshire

Common Darter male

The purpose of this blog is to keep dragonfly enthusiasts up to date with dragonfly activity throughout the season. This way we should all know first hand what’s on the wing in Shropshire.

 

All are very welcome to be part of this seasonal diary. Get in touch via the  contact form with sightings and photographs so I can post them on the blog. Even if you’re new to dragonflies and not sure what you have photographed please send it in and get involved in the 2025 Shropshire Dragonfly Watch.

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Sunshine or snow?…

Well after a hint of summer back in February and then a hot week last week I thought I'd better launch the 2019 blog just in case we have early records coming in.....and now snow is…
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April 2, 2019
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Chilling off in Shropshire…

Despite extensive searching Stephen Barlow found no further Common Darters at Whixall and the last known sighting was on 18th November but unfortunately on the Welsh side of the Moss! Keep me posted if you…
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November 20, 2018
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Will it be a record breaking year?

Stephen Barlow reports 2 more Common Darters seen at Whixall Moss on 13th November and 'a hawker' -the latter just inconveniently over the border in Wales! The latest recorded sighting of Common Darter in Shropshire…
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November 14, 2018
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Knowing where to look…

Stephen Barlow has been seeking out more early November Common Darters finding them in sun traps on Whixall Moss. Interestingly Stephen points out that due to the low sun at this time of year a…
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November 5, 2018
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Lurking in the vegetation…

Despite the recent hard frosts Stephen Barlow is still seeing a reasonable number of species lurking in the warmer spots on Whixall Moss. These pics of a female Migrant Hawker (left), Black Darter (below left)…
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November 1, 2018
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Still on the wing…

Stephen Barlow reports Black Darter and Migrant Hawker still on the wing at Whixall Moss last week as well as Common Hawker - a female seen here with a very parallel sided abdomen, not waisted…
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October 25, 2018
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Black Darters on Titterstone Clee HIll

Jason Kernohan has spotted 2 male Black Darters on Titterstone Clee Hill in south Shropshire -one photographed here showing the characteristic waisted abdomen of the male. Only a handful of Black Darter records have ever…
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September 5, 2018
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Still on the wing….

Jan Shields has been enjoying our late summer species at Mousecroft Pool including a number of Darters and Hawkers. The female in this pair of Migrant Hawkers illustrates the long anal appendages typical of this…
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September 3, 2018
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Beauty at the Bog…

Dawn Balmer has been visiting the Stiperstones area and The Bog Pool and enjoying 2 of our late summer species in all their glory! This stunning male Emerald Damselfly really lives up to it's name…
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August 16, 2018
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Migrant Hawker on the wing

Migrant Hawker finally confirmed on the wing and seen here by Jan Shields both at Whixall Moss and at Mousecroft Pool near Shrewsbury. Jan's photos show clearly the reduced antehumeral stripes on the male thorax…
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August 6, 2018
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Don’t forget to check the vegetation…

David Goodwin has been in touch reporting over 60 Southern Hawker exuviae from his garden pond pictured below. David is based in Staffordshire, but such a focus on these 'proof of breeding' records deserves special…
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July 30, 2018
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Keeled Skimmer at Titterstone Clee Hill!

Amazingly this discreet rare Shropshire species has been seen at another new site! - this time Titterstone Clee Hill, recorded by Jason Kernohan along with Common Hawkers and Azure, Blue-tailed, Common Blue and Emerald Damselflies.…
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July 26, 2018
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Keeled Skimmer at Wildmoor Pool!

I was teaching a dragonfly ID course last weekend and we were out with nets in the torrid heat at Wildmoor Pool when one of the participants Carol Harvey caught a dragonfly. I removed it expecting…
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July 17, 2018
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Keeled Skimmer at Whixall Moss

Whixall Moss has historically produced a few suspected sightings of Keeled Skimmer, the photographic proof being provided by Lee Wilkinson back in 2013. All has been quiet-ish since then...again with a number of possible unconfirmed…
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July 16, 2018
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White-faced Darter season draws to a close

Stephen Barlow has sent in a couple of photos illustrating the last days of the White-faced Darter flight season. Whilst other species such as Emerald Damselflies and Black Darters are on the rise, the remaining…
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July 16, 2018
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And the heat goes on…

One hot day after another- quite incredible! Jan Shields has been observing numerous Ruddy Darters basking in the sun's rays at Venus Pool and sent in this fabulous shot of a mating pair. The photo…
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July 12, 2018
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Furry Lunch…

Lee Wilkinson has sent in this lovely photo of a Golden Ringed Dragonfly getting it's jaws into a rather furry lunch up at Wildmoor Pool. Paul Spear has also sent in some great photos of…
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July 2, 2018
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3 new species on the wing!

One week away enjoying the gales and rain of Norway and so much happens! All this fabulous weather has encouraged 3 more species onto the wing. Ruddy Darter has been recorded and beautifully photographed by…
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July 2, 2018
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Evidence Of Common Hawker…

Jason Kernohan has been on the trail of the aptly named Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly on Titterstone Clee Hill. Sadly to no avail this time, but he did find the first evidence of Common Hawker emerging…
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June 20, 2018
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Brown Hawker on the wing

Brown Hawker has been recorded at Prees Heath Common and is seen (albeit fairly well camouflaged) ovipositing in this photograph taken by Stephen Barlow. Also recorded on this visit were Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Azure…
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June 19, 2018
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A lack of personal space…

Jan Shields has sent in a lovely photo of a Red-eyed Damselfly annoying a female Emperor Dragonfly whilst ovipositing at Mousecroft Pool. I'm not sure why some damselflies do this- please get in touch if…
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June 18, 2018

Species recorded in 2025…

Large Red Damselfly

5th April

Common Blue Damselfly

22nd April

White-faced Darter

24th April

Four-spotted Chaser

24th April

Broad-bodied Chaser

27th April

Azure Damselfly

28th April

Blue-tailed Damselfly

28th April

Beautiful Demoiselle

28th April

Common Clubtail

5th May

Banded Demoiselle

6th May

Red-eyed Damselfly

16th May

White-legged Damselfly

16th May

Emperor Dragonfly

16th May

Black-tailed Skimmer

19th May

Norfolk Hawker

21st May

Variable Damselfly

21st May

Golden-ringed Dragonfly

29th May

Emerald Damselfly

30th May

Downy Emerald Dragonfly

31st May

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

4th June

Common Darter

6th June

Black Darter

11th June

Common Hawker

13th June

Ruddy Darter

14th June

Keeled Skimmer

14th June

Brown Hawker

15th June

Southern Hawker

28th June

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

29th June

Migrant Hawker

24th July

Willow Emerald Damselfly 

30th July

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